Taking kids to visit Santa in the run up to Christmas - a tradition that's been around since the 19th century in the States, and presumably almost as long here in Ireland. I have gorgeous memories of going to see "Santy" in Switzers in Cork in the 1980s - I can't remember any of the ...
When my first baby was a year old, my husband and I thought we had it licked. "This is pretty easy actually," we said to each other, "We've come through the first year unscathed, let's have another one!" I mean, how much harder could two possibly be? As it turned out, when the first baby is still ...
My first holiday as a parent was a bit of a shock. I remember looking forward to it, thinking that it would a relaxing, sun-filled, restful ten days - a few glasses of wine, some nice dinners, and lots of sleep. Oh and reading - a great chance to catch up on all those books ...
As I sat in my local Starbucks recently, I noticed how many dad and baby pairings surrounded me, and wondered if perhaps the roles of mothers and fathers are drawing ever closer. Then I thought a bit more, about how different my husband and I are at home and changed my mind. I thought about ...
Throwing my hands up in despair, I asked my four-year-old daughter what I could possibly do to get her to eat dinner. It was a general question - not specifically related to the meal we'd had (or not had, in her case) that evening. I figured she might have the answer. "Cook nicer dinners" she said. You ...
Where to buy a moses basket mattress, what to pack in the hospital bag, which books to read, where to find baby name meanings and why you must put your unborn child's name down for schools: these are just some of the many pieces of advice I was given when expecting my first baby. But what ...
My third child is experiencing quite a relaxed toddlerhood, compared to that of my second and especially my first. He has fewer toys, fewer clothes, and hand-me-down everything possible - so a lot of pink. But he's the happiest, most chilled out kid of our bunch, so we must be doing something right - finally.... In ...
Before I had children, I had pretty high expectations - of myself. I thought I'd be a good mother. I thought I'd have children who ate mostly vegetables. I thought they wouldn't watch TV. And I thought I'd maintain a certain level of personal-grooming. No need to let it all go is there? Then I ...
I'm writing this intro from the floor of my toddler's bedroom. He's sort of asleep, but not quite. I'm safe to have my phone switched on, but it's not yet time to sneak out of the room. I know this because I have been doing it every night for the last three months. Since we ...
I'm not great at saying no. And I have some colleagues at work who are not great at saying no. And some good friends who don't say no to their bosses easily. We have something in common - we are all parents - all working mothers. We all work, and are paid for, part-time hours. And most of us ...